Trump Open to Dialogue with Iranian Leadership Amidst Tensions

Alanbatnews -

Former U.S. President Donald Trump has expressed his openness to engaging in dialogue with the Iranian leadership, signaling a potential shift in relations amidst ongoing tensions. Trump's remarks come after reported U.S.-Israeli strikes within Iran.

Speaking to Fox News, Trump stated, "It's moving along. It's moving along rapidly. It's been that way for 47 years. Nobody can believe the success we're having. 48 leaders are gone in one shot, and it's moving along rapidly."

In a separate interview with The Atlantic from his Mar-a-Lago club in Florida, Trump indicated that Iranian leaders "want to talk, and I'm willing to talk to them. So I would have a conversation with them. They should have done it sooner. There could have been practical and easy [solutions] a long time ago. They waited too long."

When questioned about the timing of such a conversation, Trump said, "I can't tell you that," noting that some Iranian figures involved in past negotiations are no longer alive. "Most of those people are gone. Some of the people we were dealing with are gone, because this was a big hit. (Very big). They should have done it sooner. They could have made a deal. They should have done it sooner. They were trying to be too smart."

Asked if he would prolong a U.S. bombing campaign to support potential street action in Iran, even if it took time to topple the regime, Trump responded, "I'd have to look at the situation at the time it occurs. I can't give an answer to that question right now."

Despite this, Trump voiced confidence in an impending uprising, citing celebrations in Iranian streets and support rallies by expatriates in New York and Los Angeles.

“This is going to happen. You see it. And I think it’s going to happen. A lot of people are very happy there. And in Los Angeles and many other places,” he said.

Trump added that he was encouraged by the Iranian people's reaction thus far, stating, "Knowing it's a very dangerous place, and knowing that I told everybody to stay put... I think it's a very dangerous situation there right now. The people are cheering in the streets happily. But at the same time, there are a lot of bombs dropping."

Regarding the economic impact of the attacks on oil markets, Trump suggested it would be less impactful on "Americans' pocketbooks" than some analysts predicted, given the operation's initial success. He told The Atlantic, "We could have seen a big spike in oil prices if things went wrong."

“We’ll see what happens,” he added, before circling back to his decision to attack Iran for the second time since June. “People have wanted to do that for 47 years. They’ve been killing people for 47 years. And now the shoe’s on the other foot.”